WMGS Sites

About

The Western Michigan* Genealogical Society (www.wmgs.org) was founded in 1954 with the purpose of preserving and making available for genealogical research the records of our ancestors; encouraging and assisting members in genealogical research; promoting the exchange of knowledge and encouraging the deposit of genealogical records in established libraries and archives.

*Includes Kent County and the counties immediately surrounding; namely Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Montcalm, Ionia, Barry and Allegan Counties. There is some extension beyond these counties into other areas of the Western Lower Peninsula.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a western Michigan gem. The 158-acre campus, 1000 E. Beltline Ave. NE, has attracted more than 10 million visitors since opening in 1995. Outdoor amenities include nature trails, a boardwalk, a Japanese garden and a replica of a 1930s farmhouse. Meijer Gardens is home to a permanent sculpture […]

Special Announcement! I am really looking forward to both Spring and the NGS Family History Conference. I hope you are too. Actually, everyone that I have talked to is done with winter and looking forward to warmer weather and different activities. Speaking of different activities. This conference is different- at least for us. This is […]

This Saturday, February 3, the Black Family History Series at the Grand Rapids Public Library kicks off at the WMGS monthly meeting at 1:30 p.m. in the Ryerson Auditorium. We announced a speaker change last Friday. This is a reminder… You’ll not want to miss Tony Burroughs. As our featured speaker at the GotAncestors Annual […]

Ted Bainbridge, Ph.D. Findagrave.com has announced that the web site soon will change. Some changes are cosmetic, while others are functional. A map feature has been added. The home page, formerly just a list of over thirty choices, will become a photograph with a few menu selections across the top. That page will be dominated […]

Gerrit Streelman, originally from the Netherlands, was just stopping by the bank on Grandville Avenue near Grand Rapids, Michigan one morning in 1919 when he realized a robbery was taking place. Shots were fired and Gerrit died instantly.

Traditions often enrich and strengthen family bonds and create fond memories. Whether they are stories, activities, or beliefs handed down from generation to generation, it’s important to preserve your family traditions for future generations. WMGS encourages you to write about one of your family’s traditions. They may occur daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, and revolve […]

2017 WMGS Writing Contest Winners to be announced on Saturday, May 6th, at the monthly meeting of the Western Michigan Genealogical Society in the Ryerson Auditorium at the downtown Grand Rapids Library. Winning entries will be included in future issues of Michigana.

There are times that I just happen across things in my house that have been there for years… originating from a grandparent, distant cousin, or was acquired, stored and forgotten. Sound familiar? This is one of those stories. My grandfather Kenneth Bennett passed away twenty years ago. Since I was the “family historian” items often […]